Monday, September 14, 2015
Take a Selfie with Ontario's Fall Colours
Great Photo Opportunities Abound in Ontario’s Parks
Ontario's provincial parks offer great opportunities for families and friends to view the beautiful fall colours.
This coming fall, take the opportunity to visit a provincial park or go for a stroll in your local neighbourhood park, take a selfie with the fall colours, and remember to use #FallColours.
The Ontario Parks Fall Colour Report shows you when colours are at their peak in provincial parks across Ontario. Colours peak at different times across the province, so check the report often.
Did you know?
- There are about 85 billion trees in Ontario and almost 40 per cent of those are deciduous.
- About 66 per cent of Ontario is forested, making Ontario rich in fall colour. Some of the most brightly coloured fall foliage in the world occurs in southern Canada.
- Tamaracks are the only conifer trees in Ontario to lose their needles, but before they fall the needles turn a brilliant gold.
- Birch and poplar trees are among the first to lose their leaves in fall while oaks are among the last. Some oak and beech trees hang on to their leaves all winter.
- Part of the reason leaves turn colour is because they're recycling nutrients. Trees whose leaves turn red are the best recyclers.
- Who said carbs and sugar are bad for you? Chlorophyll, which makes the leaves green in the summer, gets turned into sugar, carbs and water to help the trees live through the winter.
- Leaves don't actually turn yellow and orange. The yellow and orange pigments are always in the leaves but are not revealed until the green fades.
- Carotenoids give leaves their yellow and orange colours and are also found in corn, canary feathers, daffodils and egg yolks.
- Anthocyanins are sunscreen for trees and are what make their leaves turn red and purple. Anthocyanins are also found in cranberries, blueberries, strawberries and plums.
For the best viewing spots to see the beautiful fall colours in Ontario's provincial parks, check out:
If you're planning to stay overnight, campsites can be reserved online, 24 hours a day, or by calling the park reservation line at 1-888-ONT-PARK between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily.
Quick Facts:
- There are more than 330 provincial parks in Ontario, covering more than eight-million hectares — an area larger than Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island combined.
- In 2014, Ontario’s provincial parks received more than 8.5-million visits from people around the world and brought in more than $70 million in revenue, which supported jobs and businesses across the province.
Additional Resources:
Quotes:
"Whether you go to the far reaches of Lake Superior, central regions of Algonquin, or the southern climes of Bronte Creek, Ontario’s provincial parks offer some of the best spots to see the spectacular fall colours. I encourage you to take a trip to a provincial park this fall to take in this remarkable change in seasons."
— Bill Mauro, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry
"Ontario’s parks and trails are best and brightest in the fall and enjoyed by countless visitors throughout the province and from around the world. It’s a great time of year for tourists, families and friends to take in the beauty of these majestic natural settings, truly some of the best sights in the world."
— Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport
Media Contacts:
Todd Lane
Minister’s Office
416-314-1100
Media Desk
Communications Services Branch
416-314-2106
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